Van Vliet stimulates growth

Explore new application options

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The Colorado 1640 is so quick and easy to use that we now have the confidence and capability to take on more work.

Daniel Van Vliet. Van Vliet

Passion for print

Van Vliet Printing, a Dutch print and graphic arts specialist, was one of the first companies in Europe to install Canon’s new Colorado 1640 64” roll-to-roll printer to drive further production efficiencies and business growth. From early roots in letterpress printing, the company, located in Hoorn, 35km north of Amsterdam, today offers a full range of printing services including small and large format digital printing, contour cutting and laser cutting for commercial applications, promotional graphics, point of sale materials and customised packaging.

Owner, Daniel Van Vliet, the second generation of the family to steer the business, is passionate about the role of digital technology in ensuring that Van Vliet Printing is always at the cutting-edge. He has cultivated a long term partnership with Canon over the years, with Arizona and ColorWave technologies having played a critical role in the company’s expansion. Daniel Van Vliet first saw the Colorado 1640 at drupa 2016, where Canon showed its UVgel technology to selected partners and customers as a technology preview. Daniel immediately saw the growth opportunities the new device could provide in terms of speed and quality to his customers. Consistent with his innovative and forward-thinking philosophy, Van Vliet Printing became the first business in The Netherlands to install the Colorado 1640 in September 2017, with the aim of providing new services to its existing retail customers.

No compromise between speed and quality

Van Vliet Printing has not only benefitted from the speed and quality of the Colorado 1640, but also from increased confidence in the extended application capabilities, that it can now offer its printing services to new clients. “The Colorado 1640 is so quick and easy to use that we now have the confidence and capability to take on more work. Since the printer was installed, less than two months ago, we’ve dramatically improved our turnaround times across a wide portfolio of applications. With understanding the true quality and production capabilities of the Colorado 1640, we have now decided to pursue further opportunities. For example, we were recently commissioned to produce wallpaper for an exhibition in a local museum, representing a completely new customer for us. Unlike traditional wallpaper, it can be removed and reapplied easily. This type of application enables our client to create a completely new experience for visitors when they come to a different exhibition, as the wallpaper can be changed every time.”

Seamless integration

Daniel Van Vliet is keen to explore further application possibilities and to unleash the Colorado 1640’s full production potential in the coming months. “Having only installed the machine in early Autumn, there are even more applications we want to explore. The capabilities of the new Canon UVgel technology and ink are certainly going to open up further business opportunities for us.” Summarising his experience with the Colorado so far, Daniel Van Vliet explains, “We now have a universal print engine which can produce extremely high quality at exceptional volumes, meaning the business can be significantly more productive. The Colorado 1640 automates the printing process, enabling us to be more flexible and run more efficiently.” He continues, “With the Colorado 1640, I’ve been able to futureproof the business. Our brand owner customers are always looking for new ways to promote and extend their marketing campaigns. As a business, we like to start with the customer’s idea and then transform it into a reality. By working more collaboratively with them, we are able to translate their marketing vision and interpret it through our production capabilities.

“At peak times such as Christmas, where time-critical brand campaigns are particularly important, we look forward to demonstrating to customers how we can respond to short lead times with high quality output, thanks to this latest investment.”

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The capabilities of the new Canon UVgel technology and ink are certainly going to open up further business opportunities for us.